“When I was a young girl, whenever I’d have a worry, my mother and I would cuddle up and travel to the land of Oz. She would take me to that magical place all throughout my teenage years. We gained heart, courage, and intellect, and always found our way home with love. A little over two years ago, my mother was diagnosed with, and eventually passed away from, cancer. Throughout that time, the pain, the fear, we found our way back to Oz. We faced our fears and put them far over the rainbow. Now that my mother is gone, whenever I miss her or feel lost, I visit our special place of emeralds, witches, dear friends, and home. I know in my heart that she is there, in our magical place, creating her own adventures, just like Dorothy. She will always find her way home, in my heart.”

The book was written by Populist-sympathizer L. Frank Baum; although this was never confirmed it’s pretty widely accepted.

OKAY So as Dandelions said below, in the book Dorothy’s ruby slippers were silver (for the “Free Silver” or 16:1 silver/gold ratio that the Populist movement favored), while the yellow brick road was uneven and filled with gaps and holes (like the Gold Standard)

The Wicked Witch of the East would be the bankers and industrial tycoons of the east coast, while the Wicked Witch of the West is the railroad tycoons, who the Populists and pro to-Populists movements frequently challenged.

The Scarecrow is the farmers of the west. Part of the problem with the Populists (and the Grange and Farmer’s Alliances) is that they didn’t have the business/political know-how or experience to challenge big business but blah blah blah they had a brain all along!

The Tinman was the eastern workers, who the Populists never successfully banded together with. The idea is that the workers were dehumanized by industrial life. Baum meant to remind them that they were vital and could make a difference i.e. had a heart.

The Lion is William Jennings Bryan, three-time failed Democratic candidate for president who Baum supported. Bryan was a great speaker but he never got elected. The lion becoming brave was meant to say “hey Bryan you can do it you just gotta believe!”

The Wizard is William McKinley, built up to be a great man by advisor Marcus Hanna but really just a guy.

Emerald City=D.C., Dorothy=AMERICA, trip down the road=Coxey’s march on D.C.

Can I ask what you mean by Populists? I’m British and unfortunately know very little US political history. I was researching Populism a while ago, but all I managed to glean from it was that it’s an international movement relating to appealing to ‘The People’, showing you’re on their side against big businesses and corporate interests etc. Also it can apparently be part of various ideologies (Socialism, Fascism, etc). What does it mean in the context of the book? Why did they want the Silver Standard? What was wrong with the Gold Standard?

ANYWAY learning is fun! Sorry if this comment seems like I’m hijacking this photoset. Definitely not my intention because it is BEAUTEOUSNESS EMBODIED.

Hey bewarethejabberwock, the Populists, or the People’s Party, were a short-lived political party in America made up mostly of western/southern farmers. You’re right about what they stood for basically, but in the context of the book it’s referring specifically to the political party. The actual party pretty much dissolved in 1896 (officially disbanding in 1908) after their issues (the money question) were absorbed by the Democratic Party in the election of that year.

The whole silver/gold thing is a little complicated, but I’ll try my best here. The Populists, because they were farmers mostly, were pro inflation because their crops were worth more. The 16:1 ratio meant that 16 oz of silver was worth 1 oz of gold, and for a time the American economy was backed by silver. The only reason I can give you for them being against the Gold Standard was that many believed it was insufficient and had a lot of holes (sorry!)

I would suggest reading William Jennings Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” speech because it discusses the issue and it’s also very good, if you’re into that kind of thing.

A year ago, I read in an economics book that is an allegory about economical system of those years. The true is that Dorothy’s shoes weren’t ruby shoes but silver shoes, because in those times they wanted to change the gold standard (in which the standard economic unit of account is a fixed weight of gold) for silver standard instead.

This was absolutely stunning and amazing and PERFECT. The beginning almost made me cry and really reminded me of my Nana who I lost many years ago <3 She'll always be in my heart <3
perfect, perfect shoot

I’ve always had a special love for The Wizard of Oz, but this story is so heart warming that it made me tear up which is something I very rarely do. This is a much needed reminder that even when the ones we really love are gone, we’ll always have special things to remember them by.

I literally cried over your sweet note. I’m glad The Wizard of Oz means so much to you. It means so much to me too. The Wizard of Oz is my favorite movie ever. I love the books too. Have all my life and always will.

I really love these photos. Love the collage too! I’m so sorry about your mom, but so glad you have somewhere like Oz to go and be happy. I love to wander off there too when I just can’t handle life! But like like Dorothy said, “If I ever go looking for my hearts desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.”. W

These are sooo pretty! I remember watching the Wizard of Oz with my father whenever it came on the tv (that was the only time we could watch it when I was little, because we didn’t own a copy). Somehow, the rarity of it made it a really nice treat.
I’m really sorry about your mother. A year is, like, nothing when it comes to losing someone you love.

These pictures are so cool! They give me a nostalgic feeling. When I was a little girl, I had an obsession with these glittery red Dorothy shoes that my aunt gave me and those would be the only shoes I wore. People would just buy me a new pair every time I grew out of the old one. Thank you for such a beautiful picture series!

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